Order recording device



May 27 1952 l.. D. KILGORE ET AL 2,598,394

ORDER RECORDING DEVICE Filed April l0, 1948 IIIITH RRR-#RRI r l l l 1| IIII'IIIIIIH' INVENTORS BY @25er/es 'Z'ouf.

Patented May 27, 1.952

NT or-FICE ORDER RECORDING DEVICE Louis D. Kilgore, Detroit, and Charles Richard Stout, Berkley, Mich.

said Kilgore said Stout assignor to Application April 10, 1948, Serial N o. 20,218 7 Claims. (Cl. 17e-6.3)

This invention relates to sales recording devices, and particularly to a device for recording sales from a window display.

A display of goods in the window of a merchandising store is usually well lighted and attractive so that people will stop and observe the various articles offered for sale. No means have been heretofore provided whereby, when a person's interest is aroused, he or she can make an on-the-spot request for articles to be delivered the next day, and a sale is usually lost since, after the passage of a day or two, the idea of making a purchase is overlooked, subordinated or forgotten.

The present invention pertains to a device by which the observer desiring to make a purchase may do so at the time the observation is made, with little effort. A coin control microphone is provided on or adjacent to the window and is connected to a recording device employing a tape, wire, disk or like type, having associated therewith a timing mechanism for limiting the duration of operation of the microphone. A device for indicating to the observer the length of recording time is also provided. By the use of the coin control microphone, tampering with the device is prevented, as itis contemplated that a coin of at least 25 denomination will be required to actuate the device and when a person records an order and this is sent out, the amount of the coin is deducted from the cost of the article.

Accordingly, the main objects of the invention are: to provide a device by which sales may be made from a display by recording the ordery from a microphone; to provide a microphone adjacent to a display of articles for sale which is` coin controlled to prevent tampering and which has indicating means by which the duration of recording is indicated; to provide a recording device with a timing mechanism by which the duration of recording is controlled, and, in general, to provide a device for recording sales which is simple in construction, positive in operation and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken View in elevation of a recording device embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken view, in side elevation, of` the device illustrated in Figfl, as viewed from line 2 2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the device illustrated in Fig. 1, and Y Fig. 4 is aV view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fi-g.v 1, showing a further installation of the invention.

While the devices of the present invention is herein illustrated as being applied to a window display, it is to be understood that it is not limited to this specic application but may be employed adjacent to any display within or without the store building. Y

In the figures, IU indicates the front wall of the building having therein a window II behind which a display may be set up and illuminated.

Instructions may be provided on the card Within the window explaining to an observer that an order may be placed by operating the microphone disposed adjacent thereto through the application of a coin for which credit will be given upon a bona iide order being recorded. A coin controlled microphone containing device I2 is mounted in a casing I3 having securing bosses I4 by which the casing is attached to the front wall or other part of the building. A coin removing door I5 is provided on the casing, herein illustrated as being secured to one side'thereofv by a cylinder blockl I6. A coin slot I'I is provided in the front of the casing below the microphone I8 and an indicating lamp I9 is mounted below the coin control slot. A circuit 2| passes through the Wall and is connected through a time control device 22 to the recorder 23. The coin controlled mechanism, the microphone, the time control device and the recorder are not herein described in detail as various types are well known in the art to be suitable for the combination.

Referring to Fig. 3, the coin control switch 24 is disposed in circuit with a relay 25, having a pair of contacts CRIa and CRIb. When a coin is dropped into the slot ILthe switch 24 is momentarily closed to momentarily energize relay 25 and close its contacts CRIa and CRIbto thereby complete a holding circuit 2B through contacts CRIa which retains the relay 25 energizedafter the coin has passed beyond the switch 24 which then opens. The closing of the contacts CRIb completes a circuit through the conductor 21 and conductor 28 to the motor 29 of the time control mechanism 22. Theclosing of thevcontacts CRIb also completes a circuit through the conductor 3' I to the indicating element I9 which may be a lamp, buzzer or other indicating device. The closing of contacts CRIb also completes a circuit to the conductor 32 to energize the recording device 23. The recording device is then in operation, with the indicating lamp or other element l!! energized to indicate that the mechanism is in operation.

As the motor 29 operates, contacts C2 are closed, completing a holding circuit through the conductor 33 to the conductor 32 and the recording device 23. The continued operation of the motor 29 rotates the cam 34 until .contacts C3 are open, thereby de-energizing relay 25 and opening the contacts CRIa and CRIb. The continued operation of the motor 29 drives the cam 34 beyond the contacts C3 so as to permit the contact to close, thereby setting up the holding circuit 26 for the next operation. The further operation of the motor 29 and cam 34 opens the contacts C2, thereby de-energizing the conductors 28, 3l and 32 and interrupting'the operation of the recording device, de-energizing the indicating device 23 and the indicating element i9 and the motor 29.

At suitable times, the record' of the recording device 23 is played back and the orders recorded thereon are then iilled, credit being given for the amount of the coin which was employed for operating the indicating device. It -i-s to be understood that the coin control mechanism is of such a typeas to prevent the operation of the device by slugs-or elements other than the particular coin for which the device was constructed. Such mechanism is old and well known inthevart. and is not herein described or illustrated.

As pointed out hereinabove, the coin control microphone containing devicel l2 may be. applied at any convenient spot inside or outside of the store for recording orders. In other words, a display in the store could be setv up, adjacent .to which the device |12 is located,` and during the store hours records`A can be madedi-rectly by the purchaser without consulting a clerk. It is also within the purview of the invention to place the entire device-in the display window so .that a purchaser can watch the operationof' the recording device while placing an order. Such an arrangement` is `illustrated in Fig. 4. The. microphone containing device t2 may be fastened on the out.- side ortho glass with the cable 2 l passing through a hole 35 therein and. with the bosses I4 of the device secured` thereto by bolts extending through additional holes 38.

It is to be understood that it is within the purview-of the invention to utilizea radio circuit well known in the art in place of the conduit 2l so that when the-microphone device is secured to the outside of the Vwindow by an adhesive material, the. actuation ofthe recording and timing devices from the microphone could be produced f through the radio circuit, thereby eliminating the conduit 2| and the necessity or damaging the glass by providing holes therethrough.

What is claimed` is:

I. In an order recording device, in combination;- witha display compartment having a window, `including a recording mechanism, a housing containing a microphone, a coin control mechanismand an indicating element, means by which said housing may be attached to the outside surface'of the window of said compartment, and electric conductors extending from said housing to said recording mechanism whereby orders` for merchandise displayed in saidl compartment may be dictatedv exteriorly thereof intosaid microphone.

2; In combination with a displaycompartment having a window,y a recording mechanism, a housing containing a microphone, a coin control y mechanismand an indicating element, means. by

which the housing is attached to the outside surface of said window, and electric conductors extending from said housing to said recording mechanism whereby upon the energization of said mechanism and microphone by the operation of the coin control mechanism an order for the displayed merchandise may be dictated into said microphone.

3. In an order recording device including a vrecording mechanism to be located adjacent to a compartment having a transparent panel in which merchandise to be sold may be displayed, a housing containing a microphone, a coin control mechanism and an indicating element, means by which the housing is attached to the outside surface. of 'said transparent panel, and electric conductors extending from said housing to said reording mechanism.

4. In combination with a compartment displaying merchandise ior sale having a transment may be dictated into said microphone.

5. In an order record-ing device including a recording mechanism to be located adjacent to a compartment in which merchandise may be displayed, a support adjacent to said compartment, a housingcontaining a microphone, a coin control mechanism and an indicating element, means for fixed-ly securing said housing to. said support, and electric conductors extending from said housing to said recording mechanism.

6. In combination with a compartment. displaying merchandise for sale havingA a support adjacent thereto, a, recording mechanism, a housingcontaining a microphone and a coin control mechanism, means by which the housing may be secured fixedl'y to said' support, a. time control mechanism for limiting the operation` of the recording mechanism to a predetermined' time interval of the total time during Whichthe recording mechanism-may'operate, and a circuit connecting .the microphone, the recording mecha.- nism and the. timing mechanism whereby .an order for merchandise displayed in said compartment may bev dictated into. said microphone` while viewing said merchandise.

7; In anv order recording device to be employed with a compartment. in which merchandise is displayed including, in combination, a recording mechanism capable of recording. for a predetermined length of time, a time .control mechanism controlling the operation of' theV recording mechanism for intervals which are fractionsrof said complete. recording time, a. housing containing a microphone and' a coin control mechanism separate from. said recording and timing mech:- anisms, means for xedly securing. said housing adjacent to said compartment at. a point: Where the merchandise therein displayed may be. viewed by the person speaking into the microphone, a circuit connecting the microphone to said mechani-sm so that the housing may be located remote therefrom, an indicating. element carried by said housing and by said, timing mechanism to in- 5 6 dicate remotely,r from said mehanism the time UNITED STATES PATENTS in which theieeording occurs so as to apprise Numjer Name Date the person speaking into the microphone while 1 804' 559 Hoke May 12, 1931 viewing the merchandise when the recording has 2'229430 Warner am 21 1941 terminated- 5 2'261'420 shively etal Nov. 4: 1941 LOUIS D- KILGORE- 2,312,680 stone,Jr Mar.2,1943 CHARLES RICHARD STOUT- 2,362,244 chojnowski Nov. v, 1944 1 2 7 REFERENCES CITED ,3 9,548 Squire July 3, 1945 The followig references are of reeord in the 10 le of this paient: 

